Like I said, next chapter is up quickly.
So, Heather is trying to process what Leo's doing.
Leo gets up early and goes to the kitchen. His hand was no longer wrapped up, as he had found out on his own that it was healed enough to use. He had learned how using the stove was a bad idea. So, he brings a stool over to the cupboard and gets out the dishes and cereal. He pours it, spilling a little. He puts the cereal away and takes out the milk. It's lighter than before, but some of the creamy goodness sloshes out of the bowls.
He closes the fridge after putting the container away. Then he carries them to the table and places them in front of chairs. He takes out a third bowl and puts the spilled milk and cereal pieces from the countertop into it using his hand.
Heather walks in not much later. She finds a bowl for her and Steve at the table and Leo sitting on the floor by the wall. In his bowl, he has a meager portion compared to what was set out for the super soldiers. Heather is hesitant to sit down. She has a feeling every time she does so, she's fueling whatever makes Leo do this.
But she does sit and eat the cereal, looking over at Leo periodically. He sees her eating and starts himself. There was more milk in his bowl than cereal, so it had become soggy. But he doesn't complain.
"May I be excused?" He asks timidly. Heather looks at him.
"Of course you are." Leo stands up and walks past her to the kitchen, "I was hoping you'd sit at the table today," she comments, making Leo freeze in his spot. But he walks away after a second. The dish is washed and put in the cupboard. He goes to the bedrooms next.
His room is kept tidy, since no one uses it anymore. He walks past Steve's, since he was still sleeping. A rough battle took place the day before and left the soldier winded. Leo pushes Heather's door open, and is struck dumb.
The bed is made with army precision. The books are all on her shelf. Not a paper was out of place on her desk. The whole room practically sparkles. Leo looks for something to do, but closes the door again, not finding anything.
He walks back to the kitchen, where Heather was washing her bowl. "I can do that," Leo says. Heather just smiles at him, a hint of sadness showing through.
"I am though. Why don't you go to the living room and find a movie to watch. There isn't much to do today," Heather suggests. Leo walks over to the living room and sits on the floor. He waits for her to come over and hands her the disc folder for her to pick. Heather sighs and picks it up. While she looks through them, Leo glances at the door Steve leaves everyday.
"What's through there?" He asks. Heather follows his gaze to the door. She feels a glimmer of hope that he didn't ask permission to speak.
"Well Leo, that's the front door. Out there is where the apartment ends. There's a hallway with other doors and then the stairs or elevator to go to the first level, and then out into the street," Heather says.
"So, the hallway isn't home?" Leo clarifies.
"No Leo, the hallway is not home. Inside is home. Other people live in apartments in the other doors outside."
"Oh, okay."
"How about we watch-"
"Miss? May I use the restroom?" Leo asks suddenly. Heather stares at the movie she picked.
"Yes you may Leo." The turtle gets up and walks away. Heather feels like she's going to break down, but she tells herself she can do this.
Leo walks into the bathroom and relieves himself quickly. Then he washes his hands, drying them on the towel. He looks at his reflection. 'She doesn't understand!' He screams at himself, 'Nobody does. Only Master and I understand. This is my life. I have to live with it.' Leo walks out and sees Steve come out of his room. "Your cereal is in the dining room," Leo states.
Steve looks at him and nods sleepily. Leo walks to the now open door, but finds it in perfect order, like Heather's. He nearly stomps his foot in irritation. He corrects a few spots on the bed that the weary soldier forgot, but can't do much else.
He walks back through the hallway and stops as he sees Steve and Heather on the couch, watching whatever movie she picked. Leo takes this moment to walk into the laundry room. He starts a load and then curls up with his blanket in the corner. 'I don't belong even here,' he says, looking around the small room, 'Master always had me sleep outside, in the sewer. I couldn't sleep in the house.'
When the day was done and Leo had finished washing the evening dishes, he walked to the laundry room and sat on the floor. "Good night-" Heather said, turning into his room. But no one was there. She turns on her heel and sees Leo in the laundry room, "..Leo."
"Mmhm," he nods, curling up. He hears Heather sigh and close her room door. When he's sure she's fast asleep, he gets up and walks to the front door. He's never been outside the apartment. He's only been this far.
But he reaches up and turns the knob. He pulls the door open and looks outside. The hallway has carpet and doors lined the walls at equal distance. He looks at the difference between the wood in the apartment and the carpet of the hall. Then he takes a step outside, and then another. He closes the door behind him and wraps himself in his blanket.
'Right where I belong,' he tells himself as he falls asleep.
Steve wakes up in the early hours of the morning. For some reason, sleep has been playing tricks on him. He walks of his room and is a little surprised to not see Leo through the open laundry room door. He checks the Space Heroes room and doesn't see him. He quickly looks in the kitchen, dining, and living area. But he's not there. Steve frets a little, not knowing where the turtle boy could be.
He learns from his past mistake and carefully opens Heather's door. She's alone, sleeping with her sheets tangled about her form. He closes it and runs a hand through his hair. Leo can't be in the bathroom, the door's open. Steve checks the living room again, even looking under the couch and behind the tv. No little green boy.
Steve turns around at a small sound. He looks at the front door. It moves again, like something brushed against it. He goes over to it and opens the door cautiously. Leo has his shell to the door, wrapped in the blue blanket. Steve sees how he's fast asleep. He leaves the door open ajar and wakes up Heather.
She blinks at him and then looks at the clock. "Steve-"
"It's Leo," he states. Heather wakes up instantly and follows him to the front door. "I don't understand it," Steve says, as Heather looks at Leo's sleepy form. She kneels down next to him.
"I do," she picks him up gently, "He was forced to sleep outside his previous home, in the sewer," she whispers as she brings him over to the couch, "He asked earlier if outside that door was home, and I told him no. Now I know why he asked."
"I'll ask the neighbors if they went out last night. Although we didn't hear anything, screaming and such," Steve says, understanding the fact that Leo is different.
".. I can't take it anymore. I'm going to talk to him in the morning. This ends now." Heather stands up with Leo in her arms and walks back to his room. She looks down at him and sees a fragile little boy. 'But he's strong. He's gone through so much. He can and will overcome this.'
She lays him on his bed and tucks him in. Kissing his forehead, she walks out and closes the door. Then she goes back to her room to get a little bit more sleep in before morning.
Leo is sitting on a dining room chair in the open space of the main room. Heather is on an identical chair across from him. He's looking down, averting his eyes from her concerned gaze. He was quite surprised to find himself in his room that morning. Even more surprised when both Heather and Steve were up before him, breakfast was made, and there was nothing to clean. And everything that could be done, like a load of laundry, was put out of his reach. So he had to listen when Heather set up the chairs they are now sitting in.
"Um, if you excuse me," Leo says softly, getting up from his chair, "I need to-"
"Leo, sit," Heather commands. She's using a tone that sent across the message that she wouldn't take no for an answer. So he gets back on his chair and puts his hands in his lap. He looks like a little boy that just broke his mother's favorite vase.
"W-What is this about?" He asks. Heather scoots her chair a little closer and bends down to his level.
"Why are you doing this?" She asks. Leo looks away. "Okay.. Leo, I'm going to ask you a question and then you are going to give me the truthful answer. Understand?"
"I understand," Leo says, not making eye contact. Heather moves his chin so both pairs of blue eyes are looking at each other.
"How did you feel when you saw Splinter in the video?" Heather asks carefully. Leo's eyes widen and tries to move his head away so Heather doesn't see his tears, but she doesn't let him. She keeps a firm grip without hurting him. "Leo, answer me."
Leo sniffles and tears form little pools where her hand touches his skin. Heather looks into his eyes.
"Were you scared?" Leo nods. "Did you feel.. guilty?" Leo shakes his head. "Leo," Heather releases his head, "talk to me, please. I want to help you."
".. I-" Leo looks up before ducking his head again, "I'm scared that if-f I- mess up.. he'll-"
"Leo, he doesn't know where you are."
"But he finds me, somehow. At- At night." Heather listens more intently at this. "I wake up and he's in my room. He c-curses me, telling me I'm s-screw up, a slave. I don't deserve anything you give me. That I don't deserve my name, for I am no lion." Leo wipes the tears he's crying, "And then I blink a few times, and he's gone. You aren't around at night so he says whatever he wants."
Heather looks for an explanation, "Leo, does he ever hurt you, physically?" Leo shakes his head. "I see. So it is only verbal, no other interaction?" Leo nods, not understanding what she is getting at. "Leo, you are having nightmares. Splinter has never been here."
"But- it felt so real.." Leo defends.
"They often do. But there are ways to conquer them."
"How?" Heather smiles, hoping it's progress.
"I'll show you when it's bed time. But for today, let's not do any work. Since," Heather looks around briefly, "There doesn't look like there is much to do." Leo chuckles a little bit. "I'll get a book or two and we can read, okay?"
"And then watch Space Heroes?" Leo asks. Heather smiles a little bit and nods.
Not solved yet. Heather has a secret weapon.
What do you think it is?